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‘Don’t quit’ …AFC sends urgent delegation to beg Hughes to stay on
Kaieteur News – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alliance For Change (AFC) has assigned a delegation to meet with former leader Nigel Hughes with the hope of him retracting his days’ old resignation.
Nigel Hughes
The NEC met at an extraordinary session to consider, among other things, Hughes’ resignation, the AFC said in a statement.
Hughes resigned from the party on Wednesday. In his resignation letter, he took full responsibility for the distressing loss the party suffered at the September 1, General and Regional Elections.
The AFC contested the elections and scraped a mere 3,610 votes, upsetting any chances of securing a single seat in the National Assembly.
“While recognizing Mr. Hughes’ clear intention to act responsibly and uprightly by accepting responsibility for the Party’s electoral misfortunes, the NEC unanimously expressed its gratitude to him for his heroic efforts and invaluable contributions before and during the campaign. The NEC further affirmed that the responsibility for the Party’s electoral performance rests collectively on the entire executive, and not on Mr. Hughes alone,” the AFC reported on Saturday.
Further, the NEC directed that a delegation of its members meets with Hughes to appeal to him to continue serving as Leader until a National Conference is convened to elect new leadership.
“In the interim, the Party’s Chairman, David Patterson, will fulfill the duties as Leader,” the AFC said.
Meanwhile, the party noted that history is replete with examples of political movements reduced to zero seats in representative assemblies that have nevertheless managed to recover and return stronger.
“In this regard, work has already commenced on a comprehensive SWOT assessment of the AFC’s 2025 electoral performance, with emphasis on identifying what is needed for the Party to regain its standing.”
Further, the NEC reaffirmed its committed to rebuilding and repositioning the AFC as a strong, credible, and people-centered political force. “The Party remains dedicated to serving the people of Guyana, defending democracy, and advancing the interests of all citizens,” the party said.
“We call on all members, supporters, and well-wishers to remain united, steadfast, and engaged as the AFC undertakes this process of renewal. Together, we will overcome this moment of difficulty, and together, we will ensure that the AFC rises again to play its rightful role in shaping a brighter future for Guyana,” the statement concluded.
On Thursday, Kaieteur News reported that General Secretary of the AFC Raphael Trotman said that it is common for leaders of political parties “to fall on their sword” in cases where there are devastating defeats.
Trotman was responding to queries by Kaieteur News about Hughes’ resignation who submitted his resignation on Wednesday.
Hughes, who assumed the leadership of the party in July 2024, had campaigned feverishly across country on a slogan he adopted “better must come,” admitting that he had much to offer Guyana. He said the country needed a break and was willing to pool his ideas with others to fashion a new and modern Guyana.
But with the crushing loss at the polls, Trotman said the move by Hughes “is the honourable approach that is observed worldwide. However, it is the party’s leadership and members to accept or reject that offer.”
He said however, that the resignation is somewhat surprising, since there was no indication that the party leader was contemplating resigning. “Recently as Saturday last, the executive met and the meeting was chaired by Mr. Hughes. There was no hint that he was considering resigning, and no indication from within the executive that anyone wanted him to resign,” he said.
At the time of Hughes’ recognition, the AFC said that the party’s constitutional provisions would be used to guide the way forward should he remain adamant in his decision.
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